Air in Water Lines From a Well: What Causes It

Air in the water lines on a well almost always starts at the well, not in your house pipes. The usual causes are a leaking check valve, a water level that's dropped too low, or a pressure tank problem. The timing tells you which one. Air first thing in the morning points one way. Air after a long shower points another. When Austin Drilling tracks down air in water lines on a well, the fix is often a part, not a whole new well.

Is it really air, or something in the water?

Start with a glass. Fill a clear one at the kitchen tap and set it down. If the water is white and clears from the bottom up, that's air (City of East Moline water department). If it stays cloudy or settles out as grit, it's sediment or minerals. That's a different problem.

Smell it too. Rotten eggs means gas from the water itself, not air. We cover that in our page on hydrogen sulfide in well water.

What causes air in water lines with a well?

Three things cause most of it. Each one leaves a different clue.

A bad check valve. The check valve holds water up in the pipe when the pump shuts off. When it leaks, water drains back down the well overnight. Air fills the gap. The next morning the pump pushes that air into your house. So the first faucet of the day sputters and coughs, then runs fine. That pattern is classic. It's also tied to a pump that keeps losing prime.

A low water level. If the water drops below the pump intake, the pump sucks air with the water. This one shows up after heavy use. Long showers. Laundry day. Watering the yard. It often gets worse in a dry summer. Read our page on a well running dry for the other warning signs.

A pressure tank problem. Yes, a bad tank can put air in your lines. Older homes used galvanized tanks with no rubber bladder inside. Those systems need a snifter valve and a drain-back valve to add air on every cycle. When someone swaps in a modern bladder tank and leaves those parts in, the house gets air at the faucets constantly (InspectAPedia). If your air started right after a new tank, that's your first suspect. More on tanks in well pressure tank problems.

Does the timing really matter?

It matters more than anything else. Ask yourself when it happens.

Morning only? Think check valve. After heavy use? Think water level. All the time, starting right after tank work? Think leftover snifter valve. Only at one faucet? That's probably plumbing at that fixture, not the well.

One more myth. A small leak in a house pipe doesn't pull air in. Leaks let water out (Balkan Plumbing). So don't chase drips looking for the air.

When is air in the lines an emergency?

It's urgent when the pump keeps running and the air keeps coming. A pump pulling air runs hot. Left alone, it can burn out the motor. Then a cheap valve becomes a full pump replacement.

Shut the pump off at the breaker and call Austin Drilling if you see any of these:

1. Air with every use, all day long.
2. Water that sputters, then stops.
3. The pump runs but pressure won't build.
4. Air that started right after a storm or power outage.

Don't pull the pump or open the wiring yourself. That's licensed work, and it's dangerous.

FAQ

What causes air in water lines with a well?

Usually a leaking check valve, a water level below the pump intake, or a tank problem. When it happens tells you which.

Can a bad pressure tank cause air in water lines?

It can. The most common case is a bladder tank installed with the old snifter and drain-back valves still in place.

Is air in well water lines dangerous to drink?

Air itself isn't. But the cause can hurt your pump if it runs dry.

How do I get air out of my water lines on a well?

Running the taps clears it for now. If it comes back, the cause is still there, and that needs a repair.

Who fixes air in water lines from a well near Columbia?

Austin Drilling does, across the Midlands and Upstate. Call West Columbia at (803) 926-5402 or Newberry at (803) 926-7080, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. Saturdays are by appointment. See our pump services or contact us online, and we'll get your water running right.